A HOST of volunteers helped the Carpenter’s Arms bring some festive spirit for another year to some of Loughborough’s needy families.

Residents were supplied with food parcels, jackets and coats, and children were seen being given presents.

In addition to their groceries, there was also a white van to provide hot food in the cold and dreary weather conditions.

These donations came from local businessman Bill Finney who supplies fruit and veg for the food bank on a weekly basis.

The Carpenter’s Arms also provided Bill with a list of 10 families he could help in the town. Bill then gave them an envelope of an extra £100, to help them in the run-up to Christmas.

Bill said: “I do it because this is what Christmas is about. We are all born again Christians. I saw on the news that 50 per cent of the popularity aren’t religious and don’t even know about the Lord. They don’t know what Christmas is really about. They think it’s just an excuse for a party, It’s about Christianity. That’s what I push, that’s my life.

“We are in 2015 now, there are queues and queues of people waiting for food. The government put thousands of pounds into their own pockets but they need to take to the streets to see how it really is.”

Keith Reynolds, from the Carpenter’s Arms charity on Wharncliffe Road, said: “On a Tuesday and Thursday we give out food parcels, which has been going for years.

“Bill supplies a van full of fruit and veg every week for the food bank, it runs purely from donations.

“Every Christmas, Bill supplies toys for children, a hot food van and jackets and coats. He’s a very generous man.

“Between 60 and 80 people will turn up, and come from all over Loughborough.

“It lifts their spirits, we’ve done it for about five years now and it’s successful every year.”

Loughborough resident George Cardno came to the Carpenter’s Arms in March with a drug addiction. After finishing the recovery programme in October, George helps run the food bank alongside other volunteers.

George said: “In March this year I started the programme and finished it about two months ago, and now help run the food bank to help others.”

Keith added: “George has taken it to another level, he knows everyone here and has a rapport with the people.

“The food bank was running low on potatoes so last week he went to the shop and bought some out of his own pocket, he’s brilliant.

“His family have also raised around £2,500 for the project through various different fund-raisers.”